Automation has deep Repco-connected heritage going back to 2003. Openhood brings the workshop floor up to date: a mobile, voice-first way to capture findings and work, so the paper job card and the advisor's double entry both disappear. Less paper. More work captured while the car is still in the bay. Openhood drafts, your people confirm.
Australian workshop software comparison
Openhood vs Automation
Compare Openhood with Microbase Automation for workshops considering older Repco-connected software against a modern AI-assisted operating system.
Repco-era depth from 2003. Openhood is the modern, mobile, voice-first floor an apprentice picks up in a day.
Microbase Automation publicly describes Automation Premium as an automotive service centre management application first released in 2003 with Repco locations, used across Repco Auto Service sites and independents, with double-entry accounting, payroll, diary, jobs, marketing, SMS/email, Repco Navigator, Smart Quote, and online Repco invoice retrieval.
Openhood respects the depth of legacy automotive workflows but gives workshops a fresher, mobile-first, voice-assisted way to capture work and close the paper-to-revenue gap.
See the difference
The moment Openhood pulls ahead.
01
Tech speaks. Finding lands. No taps.
Voice assistant transcript
RecordingTap the mic to stop
Front brake pads at three millimetres, evidence saved
Inspection finding row
3mm remaining, under recommended minimum.
Voice update toast
Front brake pads
Front brake pads · Early Repair · marked
Feature comparison
Where Openhood differs from Automation.
This comparison is based on public positioning and buyer-facing material. It focuses on how quickly accurate floor information becomes advisor action and approved work.
Era and interaction model
Longstanding automotive management software with deep accounting and Repco integration heritage.
Modern mobile-first interface built around technician adoption, live workflow, and AI-assisted reporting.
Repco context
Public material highlights Repco Navigator, Smart Quote, and online Repco invoice retrieval.
Current parts integrations are not the wedge; the wedge is getting accurate findings into the system earlier.
Paper reduction
Promotes replacing pen-and-paper ordering and improving back-office paperwork.
Targets the workshop-floor paper job card and advisor double-entry loop directly.
Sources reviewed
Public buyer information used for this page.
Source links are shown because comparison pages are sales assets and liability surfaces. Openhood should win on fit, not on unsourced claims.
More comparisons
Other Australian workshop software comparisons.
MechanicDesk
Openhood vs MechanicDesk
Built to manage the whole shop. Openhood is built so your techs actually log the work, by voice, from the floor.
Workshop SoftwareOpenhood vs Workshop Software
Broad cloud job management. Openhood puts voice-first capture and live job cards ahead of the admin chrome.
Megabus / MarlinOpenhood vs Megabus Marlin
Accounting-first, all in one. Openhood leaves the ledger in Xero or MYOB and owns the workshop floor.
WorkshopMateOpenhood vs WorkshopMate
A full feature checklist. Openhood wins on the one thing techs touch most: fast voice capture.
ShopmonkeyOpenhood vs Shopmonkey
A US all-in-one with pricing behind a sales demo. Openhood is AU-native, technician-first, and you can try it live yourself.